Schools chief: Work group should be disbanded

April 23, 2013

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan's schools chief says a work group that's been meeting behind closed doors to develop a lower-cost model for K-12 public education should be disbanded.

State Superintendent Mike Flanagan told The Detroit News Monday that he's pulling a Department of Education employee off the group. Flanagan says "perception is a problem" and officials should start over while trying to "assure transparency."

The News, citing meeting minutes and reports, first reported about the group Friday. It said the model has a funding mechanism that resembles school vouchers. Documents say the aim is to create a "value school" that costs $5,000 per child annually to operate.

Republican Gov. Rick Snyder last week confirmed the existence of the group. Officials have argued it's a brainstorming group, not a public group.